Brian J. Coppins

Checklist of British Lichen-Forming, Lichenicolous And Allied Fungi

A new checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi occuring in the British Isles (including Ireland) is presented. The total number of species accepted is 1701, distributed through 294 genera. Of these species 1471 are lichen-forming, 183 lichenicolous, and 47 allied fungi. In addition to incorporating the results of investigations published since the last checklishts, the list embodies a great deal of original work by the authors and their collaborators; as a result a considerable number of changes in nomenclature are made here for the first time, including one new genus (Herteliana) and 56 new combinations. Names utilized in previous checklists are cross-referenced and relevant papers cited under generic heads.

DNA barcoding of lichenized fungi demonstrates high identification success in a floristic context.

• Efforts are currently underway to establish a standard DNA barcode region for fungi; we tested the utility of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA for DNA barcoding in lichen-forming fungi by sampling diverse species across eight orders. • Amplification of the ITS region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) was conducted for 351 samples, encompassing 107, 55 and 28 species, genera and families, respectively, of lichenized fungi. We assessed the ability of the entire ITS vs the ITS2 alone to discriminate between species in a taxonomic dataset (members of the genus Usnea) and a floristic dataset. • In the floristic dataset, 96.3% of sequenced samples could be assigned to the correct species using ITS or ITS2; a barcode gap for ITS is present in 92.1% of species. Although fewer species have a barcode gap in the taxonomic dataset (73.3% with ITS and 68.8% with ITS2), up to 94.1% of samples were assigned to the correct species using BLAST. • While discrimination between the most closely related species will remain challenging, our results demonstrate the potential to identify a high percentage of specimens to the correct species, and the remainder to the correct genus, when using DNA barcoding in a floristic context.

Species richness of lichen functional groups in relation to land use intensity

Changing land use has a major impact on lichen diversity. This study attempts to identify patterns or trends of lichen functional groups along a land use gradient, ranging from natural forests to open agricultural landscape. In eight countries, covering six main European biogeographic regions, lichen vegetation was assessed according to a standardized scheme. Data on reproductive, vegetative and ecological traits was compiled and relative species richness for all classes of all traits calculated. Relationships between the land use gradient and relative species richness of trait classes were analysed. Open and intensively managed landscapes harbour more fertile species while sterile species are relatively more important in forests. This finding is also supported by analyses of different classes of dispersal propagules. The importance of species with the principal photobiont Trebouxia s.l. increases linearly with intensification of land use. A converse pattern is revealed by species with Trentepohlia. Concerning substratum specialization only generalists show an effect along the land use intensity gradient. Their relative species richness decreases from landscapes dominated by forests to open agricultural landscape. A considerable decline in the rare lichen species richness as a result of land intensification is predicted.

Changing climate and historic-woodland structure interact to control species diversity of the ‘Lobarion’ epiphyte community in Scotland

Abstract Question: How will changing climate and habitat structure interact to control the species diversity of lichen epiphytes? Location: Scotland. Method: Species richness (=diversity) of the epiphyte lichen community known as Lobarion (named after Lobaria pulmonaria) was quantified for 94 Populus tremula stands across Scotland, and compared in a predictive model to seven climate variables and eight measures of woodland structure. An optimum model was selected and used to project Lobarion diversity over the geographic range of the study area, based on IPCC climate change scenarios and hypothetical shifts in woodland structure. Results: Species diversity of the Lobarion community was best explained by three climate variables: (1) average annual temperature; (2) autumn and winter precipitation; in combination with (3) historic-woodland extent. Projections indicate a positive effect of predicted climate change on Lobarion diversity, consistent with the physiological traits of cyanobacterial lichens comprising the Lobarion. However, the general response to climate is modified significantly by the effect on diversity of historic-woodland extent. Conclusions: Historic-woodland extent may exert an important control over local climate, as well as impacting upon the metapopulation dynamics of species in the Lobarion. In particular, a temporal delay in the response of Lobarion species to changed woodland structure is critical to our understanding of future climate change effects. Future Lobarion diversity (e.g. in the 2050s) may depend upon the interaction of contemporary climate (e.g. 2050s climate) and historic habitat structure (e.g. 1950s woodland extent). This is supported by previous observations for an extinction debt amongst lichen epiphytes, but suggests an extension of simple climate-response models is necessary, before their wider application to lichen epiphyte diversity.

Reproductive strategy and the compositional dynamics of crustose lichen communities on aspen ( Populus tremula L.) in Scotland

Ecological studies are essential in understanding the response of crustose lichens to habitat dynamics and developing effective conservation strategy. While the combined response of individual crustose species within a community will be tremendously complex, the overall result of individualistic change can be simplified using trait-based analyses. In this paper we examine the response of crustose species with contrasting reproductive traits (predominantly sexual vs asexual reproduction) and which occur within a closely defined habitat (as epiphytes on the lower bole of aspen) to environmental drivers measured at two different scales, i.e. between and within aspen stands. Our results point to the important effect of tree age and subsequent shifts in bark quality (pH) on the composition of the crustose community. However, shifts in community composition putatively controlled by bark quality comprise a change from a community dominated by sexual species to a community with mostly asexual crusts. Our results suggest therefore that variation within this crustose community may be driven by the combined effects of allogenic change (tree age and bark quality) and autogenic processes that are related to a species’ adaptive life-history traits.

Phylogenetic insights resolve Dacampiaceae (Pleosporales) as polyphyletic: Didymocyrtis (Pleosporales, Phaeosphaeriaceae) with Phoma-like anamorphs resurrected and segregated from Polycoccum (Trypetheliales, Polycoccaceae fam. nov.)

A phylogenetic analysis of nuLSU and ITS sequences representing genera previously included in Dacampiaceae indicates that the family is strongly polyphyletic and that the type species of Dacampia is placed in Pleosporales. The genus Munkovalsaria s. str. is placed in Didymosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales). Polycoccum s. str. and two species of Clypeococcum are shown to form a new lineage sister to the Trypetheliaceae in Trypetheliales and described here as Polycoccaceae. Other members of Polycoccum s. lat. are included in the Pleosporales and are closely related to lichenicolous Phoma-like species of the family Phaeosphaeriaceae. The genus Didymocyrtis is resurrected for these species and for lichenicolous species previously assigned to Diederichia, Diederichomyces, Leptosphaeria and Phoma. The genera Diederichia and Diederichomyces are synonymized with Didymocyrtis. The new combinations Didymocyrtis bryonthae, D. cladoniicola, D. foliaceiphila, D. infestans, D. kaernefeltii, D. melanelixiae, D. pseudeverniae, D. ramalinae, D. slaptoniensis and D. xanthomendozae are made, and the new name D. epiphyscia is introduced for Phoma physciicola. Some anamorph-teleomorph relationships are resolved, such as Didymocyrtis ramalinae–Phoma ficuzzae and Didymocyrtis consimilis–Phoma caloplacae, the phylogenetic results being supported by single ascospore cultures that lead to the asexual stage producing pycnidia and conidia in culture. Speciation by host switching is assumed to be important in the genus Didymocyrtis. An identification key to Didymocyrtis species is provided.

The Lichens of Caenlochan, Angus

An account of the lichen flora of Caenlochan, in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland, is provided; it is considered to be the third most important site for calcico- lous montane lichens in the UK, after Ben Lawers and Ben Alder. After evaluating all records, 322 species are accepted as having been recorded from rock and soil on high ground of which many are reported for the first time. These include Collema parvum and Rinodina parasitica new to the British Isles. The lichen flora is distributed in many small pockets, each of medium interest, so there is no single outstanding site in the corrie. Substratum variability contributes significantly to lichen diversity; the Lawers Calcareous Schists are soft and laced with seams of marble, whereas the harder hornblende schists form high cliffs that carry communities typical of rocks of intermediate base-status. The course of the Glasallt Burn is particularly varied. Severe restraints on the alpine lichen flora include the relatively low altitude (610-850 m) and sheltered situation of the calcareous strata. This adversely affects terricolous and bryophilous species. The outcrops of alkaline rock are severely limited in extent considering the reputation of Caenlochan. This is one of the driest parts of the Highlands; species of unusual abundance, such as Acarospora cervina are probably favoured by the summer water deficit, whereas others, less frequent than expected, for example Amygdalaria spp. and Collema glebulentum, may be restricted by it. Four new taxa are described: Lecidea pycnocarpa f. sorediata Coppins & Fry day, Pertusaria flavocorallina Coppins & Muhr, Polyblastia efflorescens Coppins, and Thelidium papulare f. sorediatum Coppins.

Partitioning the role of climate, pollution and old-growth woodland in the composition and richness of lichen epiphytes in Scotland.

This paper presents a study to partition the role of three regional-scale drivers – woodland extent and continuity, pollution regime, and climatic setting – in explaining the composition and richness of lichen epiphytes in Scotland. To do this we used partial canonical correspondence analysis and multiple least squares regression, to examine lichen communities across 170 study sites. First, our results demonstrate the importance of climate in explaining species composition. This highlights the relatively clean-air environment of Scotland within a European setting, and emphasizes the important consideration of regional context in the development of bioclimatic species-response models. This result contrasts with a previous similar study which collapsed complex environmental data into summary gradients, and which therefore discounted climate as a key factor. Second, we show a functional decoupling between composition and species richness, which was optimally explained by old-growth woodland extent and pollution, and only weakly explained by climate. The difference in explanatory variables between composition and richness is a focal issue in determining the processes by which species compositional change, driven by rapid and deep climate change, may indirectly impact species richness. For example, this impact may occur through an imbalance in rates of species extinction (for sensitive range-edge species) and establishment in a fragmented landscape (for dispersal-limited colonists), though operating against the ‘stabilizing effect’ of microclimatic setting.

Notes on the Arthoniaceae in the British Isles

Arthonia anglica Coppins, A. anombrophila Coppins & P. James (syn. A. cinereopruinosa auct. brit. ) and A. ligniariella Coppins are newly described, and Arthothelium ilicinum var. dictyosporum is given specific rank. British material of ‘ Arthonia exilis ’ is shown to be Bryostigma leucodontis Poelt & Dobb., which is transferred to Arthonia. Arthonia granitophila Th. Fr. (syn. Melaspilea subarenacea J. Nowak & Kiszka) is transferred to Melaspilea. Arthonia ligniaria Hellb. is added to the British list. Arthonia astroidestra Nyl. is lectotypified and shown not to be conspecific with A. stellaris Krempelh., while A. excipienda Nyl. (syn. A. hibernica Nyl.) is found not to be a synonym of A. dispersa (Schrader) Nyl. Catillaria ooliticola W. Watson is made a synonym of A. lapidicola (Taylor) Branth & Rostrup; Arthonia punctilliformis Leighton is excluded from that genus; and A. dispersa and A. patellulata Nyl. are excluded from the British list. In addition, four new lichenicolous species on corticolous hosts are introduced: Arthonia cohabitans Coppins, A. graphidicola Coppins, A. invadens Coppins and A. thelotrematis Coppins.

New or Interesting British Lichens V * The Lichenologist

Notes and keys are provided for British members of the Trapeliaceae. The genus Placynthiella Gyelnik is resurrected to accommodate the Lecidea uliginosa group: P. hyporhoda (Th. Fr.) comb, nov., P. icmalea (Ach.) comb, nov., P. oligotropha (Laundon) comb. nov. and P. uliginosa (Schrader) comb. nov. Aphanopsis Nyl. ex P. Sydow is recognized for the single species A. coenosa (Ach.) comb, nov., and attention is drawn to the enigmatic Biatora humida Kullhem. The Lecidea granulosa group is referred to Trapeliopsis , necessitating four new combinations, T. aeneofusca (Florke ex Flotow) comb, nov., T. flexuosa (Fr.) comb, nov., T. gelatinosa (Florke) comb. nov. and T. viridescens (Schrader) comb, nov., and the description of one new species, T. pseudogranulosa sp. nov. Special attention is given to sorediate species of Trapelia , including T. corticola sp. nov. and T. placodioides sp. nov.